Latest news happening in the settlement sector of Ontario.
Here we post new publications (studies, reports), government notices and more.
The balanced 2017 Budget launches OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare, a new drug benefit program that fully covers the cost of prescription medications for everyone aged 24 and under, regardless of family income.
The Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) is announcing the formation of the Legacy Task Force which will provide dedicated support to the elimination of its backlog of legacy claims.
Access Alliance is launching the Immigrant Insight Scholars (IIS) initiative. The IIS is a paid and mentored fellowship program for internationally educated researchers/analysts (e.g., epidemiologists, qualitative researchers, statisticians, evaluation experts) to utilize and strengthen their skills, and develop the local experience, track record, and professional network needed to transition to a successful career as a researchers/analyst in Canada.
This report provides a series of recommendations are offered for government, business and organizations engaged in supporting diversity and inclusion. While some of them are not new, there is new urgency to unlocking potential and building an inclusive nation where everyone benefits. The data and findings in this report make the business case.
Researchers have announced findings from the largest-ever combined sample of homeless youth in the United States and Canada, revealing that nearly one-fifth are victims of human trafficking, including those trafficked for sex, labor, or both.
Support for lower-income electricity consumers will increase by 50 per cent and more consumers will be eligible for assistance under changes to the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), which take effect May 1, 2017.
The government of Ontario is providing more respite services that allow people to take a break from their unpaid duties, increased education and training opportunities for caregivers, and a new, streamlined Ontario Caregiver Tax Credit.
The government of Ontario is increasing access to licensed child care and by making it more affordable for families in 2017-18.
Artists who are deaf or disabled are encouraged by various government arts councils to apply for grants to pursue their artistic projects and develop their professional capacity. However, if those artists are on ODSP, the grants are treated as "income". This causes many artists with disabilities to fear that they would receive little or no benefit from those grants, or that their ODSP eligibility might be threatened. The ODSP Action Coalition, in cooperation with Workman Arts and other artists' groups, has published an information pamphlet to explain the rules to deaf and disabled artists.
This information sheet briefly explains what the Occupational Health and Safety Act is, who and how it protects, what your basic health and safety rights are at work, and what to do if you get hurt or sick because of work.